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July 2017 • SMT Magazine 41 IMPACT Interviews Goldman: It's nice to show them something dif- ferent. Heath: But in manufacturing there's a big cross- section. It's Anglo, it's Hispanics, it's Asians, it's African-Americans, it's Indians, you name it. There's probably no broader cross-section of a workforce than the manufacturing workforce. It's extremely diverse. It's diverse in terms of age. It's diverse in terms of gender. It's diverse in terms of ethnicity. You name it, it's there in manufacturing. Goldman: That's true—and manufacturing is a very broad term itself. It's ranges from some- body doing the same thing repeatedly to peo- ple who push buttons and oversee things being built. Big things happen. Anything else come to mind here? Heath: Looking forward to tonight and Day Two. For as busy as today was, I'd just as soon go to my bed tonight, but I'm going to the dinner. Goldman: Oh, you definitely want to go to din- ner because there will be two senators who will be worth listening to. You want to hear from more than just your own Congressmen. Heath: A day like this will wear you out, but it's worth doing. Somebody has got to do it. Goldman: It is definitely worth it. These peo- ple seem to run from one thing to the other, though. Apparently, they're very tightly sched- uled. They've got no extra time. Heath: They seem to run from one appoint- ment to another—and they do this every day. Goldman: No wonder it's difficult to get things scheduled. IPC did a fantastic job get- ting people from Education, Commerce and DOD this morning and then the top guy at EPA and staffers from Pence's office this after- noon. Heath: They did. It's a great town here [Wash- ington, D.C.]. Goldman: Thank you so much for your time, Brad. Heath: You bet. Absolutely. SMT _____________________________________ Mikel Williams Targus After meetings all day Tuesday, there was an awards dinner that evening. IPC presented awards to two senators. Before we got started, I chatted a few minutes with Mikel Williams, president and CEO of Targus. Patty Goldman: Mikel, we've listened to a lot of speakers today, and I understand you guys had great afternoon. Tell me about your impres- sions. Williams: Yes, we did and I have several. FIrst, it seems as though with every year, IPC's IM- PACT days get better and better. We're gener- ally known as a standards organization. We're now gaining footing in public affairs, coming to Washington and trying to weigh in on public policy. The early days were a little rough; now we're much better. The staff does a great job or- ganizing it, and we get great meetings. It's clear that the administration is still set- tling in, but in fact, I had a little side meeting with somebody from the foreign affairs com- mittee between the din- ner here and the last one with Vice President Pence's staff, and I said, "You know, for the first time in a number of years you go into these meetings and you're not being treated like a bad, guilty business guy com- Mikel Williams